Tuesday, August 26, 2008

“nine-year old told he is too good to play little league”

then the league threatened to disband once he re-took the pitchers mound

Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out.

The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.

Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho’s team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho’s coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.

But Vidro says he didn’t quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league’s field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

“He’s never hurt any one,” Vidro said. “He’s on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?”

The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.

the entire thing is so sad, but probably the photo is the saddest of all because the kid clearly has skillz.

me and welch coached a little league team (above, pictured) of 9 and 10 yr olds and it was probably the best thing i did in college. and yes little kids are scared of fast pitch at that age, but they learn to adjust way faster than youd think. but they have to get in there and dig in.

thats the one thing the parents arent teaching their little angels: life is about swinging away, not quitting.